Mysuru: While asserting that no one could destroy his party, Janata Dal (Secular) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda, however, claimed here on Monday that he was personally not aspiring for power or becoming the President of the country.
Mr Gowda, who was in Chamarajnagar to hold a party workers’ meeting, was speaking to reporters after offering pooja at the Malemahadevaswara temple on the Malemahadeswara hills and the Sri Chamarajeswara temple in the district before embarking on his tour of the state in view of the looming elections to the assembly.
In an obvious reference to his son and state Janata Dal (Secular) president H.D. Kumaraswamy being under investigation for alleged involvement in a mining scam, he said no amount of plotting could destroy the party.
“We have the people’s support and so nobody can touch us. The state needs a regional party to lead it and this is why I am touring the state,” he added.
Claiming the Janata Dal (Secular) had done justice to all sections when in power in the state, he recalled it had introduced reservation for women and brought Muslims into the mainstream. “It was we who brought C M Ibrahim and Mr Siddaraamaiah into politics,” he noted.
Mr Gowda was noncommittal when asked if veteran Congress leader A.H. Vishwanath was joining the Janata Dal (Secular), only saying, “We welcome anyone who accepts the party’s principles.”
While addressing party workers, he advised those quitting it to leave in peace, without creating any chaos or conflict in the party.
